The Balloting Place and the Ballot Box

In Britain the demand for a secret ballot was one of the six points of Chartism. The Parliament of the time refused to consider the Chartist demands. The secret ballot was finally introduced in Britain in 1872 nearly a century after its introduction in France.

Schedule A, the Balloting Place

1. The space separated off by a close partition, for the purposes of secret voting.

2. The entrance to the Ballot Box, where the voter gives his vote.

3. The door by which the voter retires.

4. The front of the Ballot Box, placed on a stand with an inclined plane, down which the balloting ball descends to be ready for the next voter.

5. The seat of the Deputy Returning Officer.

6. The seats of the Agents of the Candidates.

7. The desk of the Parish Clerk and his assistants.

8. The Assistant, who delivers the balloting ball to the voters.

9. Assistants and Constables at the doors and barriers, who examine the certificates, and let the voters pass on to the ballot.

Schedule B, the Ballot Box

1. The front of the Ballot Box with the lid down, shewing five dials (or any number that may be necessary), on which are engraved (or otherwise) numerals, from one, to any number of thousands that may be required, with hands (like the minute and hour hands of a clock), to register the number of votes.

2. The apertures, with the Candidates' names opposite, through which each voter drops a brass ball, which falling in a zig-zag direction, tonches a clock-work spring, which moves a pinion on which the hands are fastened, and thus registers one, each time a person votes.

3. The front of the Ballot Box, with the lid up and sealed.

4. The stand, with the ball running down.

5. The line of the partition which makes the two rooms.

N.B.–We understand that a Ballot Box of this description, has been invented by Mr Benjamin Jolly, 19, York Street, Bath.